Electrically-operated circuit-breaker



G. A. BURNHAM.

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPucATaoN FILED 0m26.191s.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. BURNHAM, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SE JR., OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

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ELECTRICALLYLOPERATED CIRCUIT-BREAKER..

Application led December 26, 1916.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BURNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at augus, in the county of Essex and State of lassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electrically-Operated Circuit-Breakers, of which the following is a specication.

his invention relates to electrically ated circuit-breakers, and has for its object the construction of an improved form of actuating mechanism adapted to be associated with circuit-breakers for closing and operating said circuit-breakers, which is very powerful, yet very simple. An essential novel -'feature of my improved actuatin mechanism involves a thrust-toggle for the actuating-lever consisting of the armature of the closing magnet, and a link connecting the armature with the actuating-lever, these two elements being arranged to form the thrust-toggle, and adapted for operation upon energization of the closing magnet to exert a powerful thrust on the actuatinglever by which to move the movable component of the circuit-breaker. My improved construction is well adapted to have associated with it, in a very simple manner, the latch which is controlled by the trippingmagnet, and, as herein provided, said latch may be arranged for direct engagement with the armature of the closing-magnet, which, as above noted, is one of the elements of the thrust-toggle for the actuating-mechanism. The latch engages the armature or toggle-element when the toggle occupies substantially its straightened position, so that there is but little strain on the latch, and hence it can be easily moved to disengage the armature and thus release the actuatingmechanism, and will not only permit opening movement of the movable component of the circuit-breaker, but will operate by the force olf gravity of all of the components of the actuating-mechanism to quickly and positively move said movable component of the circuit-breaker into circuit-opening position.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention associated with an electrically operated circuit-breaker with its parts in closed circuit position.

F ig. 2 is a similar view with the parts in open circuit position, a position which they will assume upon operation of the tripping-magnet.

Specification of Letters Patent.

operg of toggle-elements pivotally Patented Nov. 8, 1921. Serial No. 138,767.

The circuit -breaker components lieie shown comprising the stationary contactelements 10, 12 and contact-elements 14, 15 and 16, arranged on a frame 17, borne by a pivoted arm 18, are usual or suitable construction so far as my present invention is concerned. Furthermore, my invention may be applied to circuit-breakers or" other types. lie operating-mechanism for the movable component of the circuit-breaker is here shown as a link-and-lever mechanism connected to the arm 18. now be described :`20, 2-1, represent a pair connected together to form a toggle, the element 20 being pivotally connected to the arm 18, at 22, and the element 21 being pivotally connected to the frame at 23. A link 24, preferably adjustable longitudinally, is pivotally connected at its upper end to the toggle-element 21, at 25, and is pivotally connected at its lower end, at 26, to one end of the main actuating-lever 27. The other end of said lever 27 is pivoted to a bracket 28, erected on the case or base 29 of the closing-magnet 30, of which 31 represents the armature which, as here shown, is arranged in approximately a vertical position. A link 32 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the actuating-lever 27, at 33, and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the armature 31, or to an extension thereon, at 34. Said armature 31, and link 32, form two component elements of a thrust-toggle. Said thrust-toggle is adapted to be brought into an approximate straightened position by a movement of the armature into its attracted position, as represented in F ig. 1, and during such move` ment will exert a powerful thrust upon the actuating-lever 27, to lift it and to in turn lift the link 24, and operate the closingtoggle of the circuit-breaker.

he armature 31 has a pin or projection 40, extended laterally from it, which is arranged for engagement with a latch 41, pivoted at one end, as at 42, and connected at its other or free end, at 43, with the upper end of a link 44. e lower end of said link is pivotally connected to the armature 45, of the tripping-magnet 46, which is suitably supported on the main frame. pivotal connection of the armature 45, with the link 44, is here shown as a pin 50, pro- 13, and the movable i jecting from the armature or an extension thereon, which enters a slot 51 in the link, thereby providing a loose connection which admits of a relative independent movement of the armature, as it approaches its attracted position, so that just as it arrives in such position, and whenin the strongest part of the field, said pin will be brought up against the end of the slot with a hamner-blow to eiectively operate to litt the latch. On account Yof the toggle 31, 32, occupying its substantially straightened position when the closing-magnet and associated parts are in closed-circuit position, it will be noted that there is but little strain on the latch and consequently it may be easily moved.

I claim An operating unit adapted for connection with the mechanism of an electric switch electrically to open and close it comprising a supporting frame, a closing coil carried thereby, an armature pivoted to said frame arranged in front 'of said coil and having name to this specification,

a link-receiving portion at its free end, a switch-operating lever pivotally supported to said frame above said coil having an en connection adapted to be connected with the switch mechanism, a link pivotally connected with said lever intermediate its ends and with the link-receiving portion ofsaid armature, whereby to form with said armature a lever-operating toggle, a toggle-locking lever pivoted to said frame arranged to engage said armature to lock the toggle in set condition, and a tripping coil and mechanism carried by said frame arranged to remove said lever from its lock of the toggle to cause it to break switch.

In testimony whereof I have signed my in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. BURNHAM.

Witnesses:

BJ. Noms, H. B. DAVIS.

and open the 

